Black Cats sweat on extent of Jones' injury (From The Northern Echo)

Black Cats sweat on extent of Jones' injury

2:03am Tuesday 3rd June 2008 in Sport By Scott Wilson

SUNDERLAND boss Roy Keane will be nervously awaiting news from Trinidad & Tobago this morning as Kenwyne Jones receives the results of a scan on the ligament injury he sustained in Sunday's friendly with England.

However, while Jones' injury is likely to rule him out of the bulk of the Black Cats' pre-season programme, sources in the Caribbean claim the striker should be fit for the start of the Premier League season on August 16.

Jones' leg was scanned yesterday after the overnight swelling subsided, and the results should be revealed later today.

Keane, who is currently in New Zealand studying the All Blacks rugby union side as part of his UEFA Pro Licence course, will be informed as soon as the outcome of the scan is known.

Jones was injured in the opening stages of Sunday's 3-0 defeat following a collision with England goalkeeper David James that led to him being stretchered from the field at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

It was initially feared that he had ruptured his cruciate ligaments, an injury that could have led to a nine-month lay-off and ruled Jones out of the majority of next season.

Those fears subsided when he was able to hobble to his feet and walk along the touchline, but cannot be ruled out entirely until the results of yesterday's scan are confirmed.

Medial ligament damage is currently thought to be the most likely diagnosis, and that would sideline Jones for around two to three months, a period that would rule him out of the majority of Sunderland's pre-season schedule.

He would therefore face a race against time to be fit for the first game of the season, but would expect to be available for first-team action by early September at the latest.

The Black Cats boss will be aware that things could have been an awful lot worse. He was unhappy with Jones' participation in Sunday's game in the first place after Sunderland's £6m striker fractured his wrist in the final game of last season, and will have been furious at the reckless nature of the challenge that led to his latest problem. James made limited contact with the ball before clattering into Jones' leg on the edge of his own penalty area.

Keane described Jones as one of his side's two "untouchables" at the end of last season - goalkeeper Craig Gordon was the other - and is basing his summer spending plans around a preferred line-up that has the former Southampton striker as its figurehead.

The 23-year-old was the Black Cats' leading scorer with seven Premier League goals last season, and is likely to be integral to Sunderland's chances of improving on their 15th-placed finish next season.

Sunderland supporters will get their first look at the club's new away strip next week.

The new strip will not go on sale until July 8, but fans can pre-order from June 9 at safc.com, by calling the mail order hotline on 0845 671 1973, or by visiting one of the club's official stores at the Stadium of Light, Debenhams (Sunderland) or Sainsburys (Washington).